An Integrated Model of Health and Happiness Among Post-9/11 Military Veterans

ABSTRACT

The authors developed an integrated model of well-being, defined by happiness and physical health, among post-9/11 veterans, by examining associations of religious attendance, trauma, appreciation in life, and ease of readjustment to civilian life with well-being. Data on 712 post-9/11 military veterans (81.0% male) were drawn from the Pew Research Center's 2011 Veterans Study. The authors conducted multiple regression analyses to identify predictors of health and happiness and used structural equation modeling to develop an integrated model of veteran well-being. The authors' findings indicate that ease of readjustment to civilian life is a critical contributor to the health and happiness of veterans.

KEYWORDS:

• Military
• veterans
• readjustment
• appreciation in life
• well-being
• health
• happiness
• religious attendance
• trauma
• post-9/11